Identification & Quality Standard
Herba Moslae
Botanical Origin
The dried aerial portion of Mosla chinensis Maxim., Mosla chinensis ‘Jiangxiangru’.(Lamiaceae)
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Fujian, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material has tender branches, numerous spikes, potent aromatic odor.
Macroscopic Features
Whole body is 14~30cm long, covered white downy hairs. Stem often branched, square shape, near base is round, 0.5~5mm diameter; externally yellowish-brown, near base often brownish-red, obvious joints, internode is 2~5cm long; brittle texture, easily broken, fractured surface is pale yellow, opposing leaves, often fallen off, wirnkles or broken, intact leaf is narrow or lanceolate after flattened, 0.7~2.5cm long, about 4mm wide, edge has loose saw-teeth, yellowish-green or dark green; brittle texture, easily broken. Flower whirl densely gathered in head-shape; bract covered white downy hairs; clayx is bell-like, 5 lobes ant the apex; corolla wrinkled or fallen off. Pyrene opposing 4 fruits, covered inside the persistent calyx, potent aromatic odor, acrid and cooling taste. Cultivated piece is 35~60cm long, loosely covered relatively long hairs; stem is relatively thick, internode is 4~7cm long.
